Pumping Breastmilk

 Well, it's been over a year now, of exclusively pumping breastmilk for my baby!

Thanks to people like Beth, I made it! 

When I first started, in the first couple days home with him,

I called Beth, crying, it was so hard.

It was exhausting, it was overwhelming to say the very least.

She told me if you make it the first month, you'll make it!

I agree, by that time, you have a system down of what works and what doesn't

I look back over the year and all I can think of is how hard of a year it was.

Pumping,

 fussy baby, 5 months gluten free,surgeries, hospital stays,

 pumping, pumping, pumping

Filled with blessings?

Yes.

But very hard.

The above picture is what my counter looks like always

(this from a person who likes empty counters)

It's only a year

I've said that a thousand times this past year.

Well, that year is up

I'm excited for 2013

The year I stopped pumping

Somehow...

 Here's Simeon at my feet while I pump...

 This past couple weeks, my breasts have gone through something

I've made it a year with a few glitches,

like right before I get my period, I have about 4 days

of about 4-5 ounces of less milk per pumping

but these past couple weeks, though, 

have been weird, 

like my body knows it's been a year and it's done

I've gotten clogged milk ducts,

and very very sore nipples...bloody bottles

(had to throw those out)

and sometimes have to sit here for 2 hours

(when I finally give up)

to get the 2 1/2 bottles I need for him.

I ordered the above supplements to help with my milk

they are huge horse pills--hard to swallow for me

I'm not sure if they work or not

Maybe a little, but then today,

and last night's 1am feeding took forever, 2 full hours to get 2 bottles

(I have a pink one like this, hands free)

Because it's hands free

 (thank you nurse at hospital for telling me about this)

I've watched movies, 

Done lots of computer time,

joined Facebook, 

gotten addicted to Pinterest

Corrected papers

taught school

played games

read books

written out my Christmas cards

Made Jesse Tree ornaments

prayed

read (some)

blogged

I even pumped while making my Christmas Eve dinner

I've also driven kids to Piano several times while pumping

 I catch myself thinking of all the things I'll get done when I quit

We're talking major hours I pump here, like at least 5 per day sitting here.

But, as my sister in law told me yesterday 

(and she's right)

There won't be that much time 

It will be replaced by laundry getting done quicker,

or supper on time

or whatever fills it automatically.

But,

I'll take it

I want to replace my morning pumping with exercise

After a week of sleeping in!

(haha)

I can't wait for my life to not revolve around pumping

 Everyone in the family has sacrificed and suffered (in my mind)

because of pumping

They have helped a ton, by watching Simeon while I'm sitting here

They've lost my time with them

They have also gained a lot of virtues

like charity, patience, sacrifice, love 

and empathy 

for others going through similar things

 My relationship has suffered with my husband

He's had to do a lot more--have meals later quite often

had to do bedtime with the kiddos 

and most of all, 

we've missed just having the time to do things together

At night time, I'm too tired, I feed Simeon, and try to sleep 

til my 1am pumping (sometimes that is 11 or 12)

I'm always tired

 Don't get me wrong here

It is totally worth it!

Look at my healthy baby, 

I think he heals quickly because of the breastmilk

That keeps me going, his surgeries

knowing he's getting the best I can give him

It's a sacrifice we feel was worth it.

 I learned very quickly I had to be very organized with my times and dates

and always tried to give him the freshest milk

 He's come so far, and gone through so much

It's the very least I can do for my baby

 It's a sacrifice I do because I love him,

but there's no love of pumping
unlike nursing, I loved nursing my other babies

Don't hug me too close,

 because I think my nipples are permanently sensitive now

(tmi? sorry)

 My goal is to make it to the end of January

pumping fresh milk, which brings him to 13 months

(since he was born a month early)

and then somehow taper off

not sure how to do that without getting clogged milk ducts

maybe spread more hours between pumpings?

 Then, switching to my frozen milk, 

I'm hoping I have a couple months worth here

My sister in law suggested mixing half and half,

half whole milk/half breast milk to start weaning him

I've never done this, I've always breastfed til a year and a half

(except my 2nd, she weaned right at 12 mos and went to milk in a cup)

 (me--always tired)

 Totally worth it

(hat courtesy Amy)

 Happy happy baby, totally worth it

 Still not going to miss this! 

I'm thinking I'll need to take a break from the computer, 

when I quit pumping, 

because now I do it while pumping, 

Not sure how to fit any of it back in to my day

 Trying hard to make it to the end of January